Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Washington, DC Permit No. 2141

2000 P Street, NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036

Voice

SPRING 2013 www.dcvote.org

DC Vote staff and supporters celebrate the passage of Referendum 8 during the April 23rd Special Election.

Voice

SPRING 2013 www.dcvote.org

Victory for DC Budget Freedom!

The people of the District seized control of their local tax dollars on April 23rd, with 83 percent of the voters supprting the local budget autonomy referendum proposed and advanced by DC Vote. This historic victory at the polls amends the DC Home Rule Charter to allow the District to spend local funds without first getting congressional approval. It marks the first time District residents have used the ballot box to materially advance our long fight for self-determination. DC Vote began exploring the idea of using a referendum to advance our budget freedom fight nearly two years ago. Working with our pro-bono attorneys, we determined that budget autonomy could be won through a well-established referendum process used to amend the DC Home Rule Act. Then, DC Vote worked to convince the council that this was a sound strategy, and urged them to move legislation to place the issue on the ballot. DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson embraced the referendum and the entire Council followed, voting unanimously to place the issue on the ballot. After the council passed the referendum legislation, Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY) put it best when he called the referendum, Democracy at its very core. This victory has many authors. Chairman Mendelson and the Council led the charge. Mayor Vincent Gray signed the bill and urged residents to vote for budget freedom. The DC Vote staff and the DC Budget Freedom Committee executed an energetic and very visible Yes on 8 campaign, fueled by the many volunteers that are so vital to our success. Our yard signs were in every corner of the District, and our message was delivered at community meetings and forums in every neighborhood. Our pro-bono team at Arent Fox, and our partners at DC Appleseed, laid the legal foundation that has been critical to our success. We never could have launched the referendum campaign without your support. The referendum and the waging of our campaign were possible because of contributions from people who continue to demand full democracy for DC. We especially need your financial support at this time. Please use the enclosed envelope to donate to DC Vote today, or go to dcvote.org/donate. Your continued support is critical as we work to defend the referendum from potential challenges. We won an important victory on April 23rd, but it is but one step in our fight for equality. With your support, DC Vote will press forward to political equality for the people of the District.

Join the Fight

Summer is just around the corner, so sign up to help spread the word about DC democracy during one of the upcoming events or neighborhood festivals. June 1 June 2 July 4 September 8 September 21 TBA Capital Pride Parade Capital Pride Festival Palisades 4th of July Parade Adams Morgan Day H Street Festival Fiesta DC

DC Vote staff and volunteers get ready for the 2013 Emancipation Day parade.

Make sure to follow us!

twitter.com/DC_Vote facebook.com/dcvote

If you want to volunteer at any of these events, please email rsvp@dcvote.org.

DC Vote Staff Kimberly Perry, Executive Director Eugene Dewitt Kinlow, Public Affairs Director Antonette Russell, Operations Director James Jones, Communications Director Nadia Elguindy, Development Manager Catherine Cavander, Development & Administrative Assistant Michael Bolton, New Media Specialist Copyright 2013 DC Vote

Use the enclosed envelope or visit our website today at www.dcvote.org to make a contribution to DC Vote.

Workplace giving is easy! DC Vote is CFC #66340 and OneFund #9501

DC Vote is a 501 (c)(3) educational and advocacy organization whose mission is to secure full voting representation in Congress and full democracy for the residents of the District of Columbia.

Voice

SPRING 2013 www.dcvote.org

3 Working to End Taxation Without Representation in the Nations Capital Veterans Win DC Flag Fight
Late last year, a group of DC veterans lobbied Senate offices to make sure members of the armed forces from DC get their due at military ceremonies. The efforts of our veterans led to the passage of legislation requiring that the DC flag be displayed at all military ceremonies where state flags are used. The issue first came to the attention of DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton after parents of a Navy Seaman from the District attended their sons basic training graduation. Every state flag was dipped to honor the graduates, but not the District flag for their son. Under the new law, that will never happen again.

Voice

DC Vote White House Petition Prompts President to Change the Plate

It started as an appeal by DC Vote on the Whitehouse.gov We the People petition website. DC Vote petitioned the President to display DCs iconic Taxation Without Representation license plate on the Presidential limousine in time for the inaugural parade. It ended with a prominent display of support from President Obama that was seen by the entire nation on Inauguration Day. Beyond the symbolic and educational value of the license plate change, the White House offered the strongest statement of support yet for the people of the District. This commitment from the President was the result of strong teamwork. DC Votes petition generated substantial local and national media attention. The DC Council followed up with a Sense of the Council resolution, citing our petition and calling on the President to change the plate. Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, along with Chairman Mendelson, sealed the deal after securing a White House meeting to press our case. Thousands of people signed our petition, and millions learned about our second-class status on Inauguration Day. President Obama backed up his statement by including language in his recent budget proposal that would give DC budget autonomy.

Ward 5 Council Member Kenyan McDuffie and Public Affairs Director Eugene Kinlow fired up the Boundary Stone crowd.

President Obama has lived in the District now for four years, and has seen first-hand how patently unfair it is for working families in DC to work hard, raise children and pay taxes, without having a vote in Congress. Attaching these plates to the presidential vehicles demonstrates the Presidents commitment to the principle of full representation for the people of the District of Columbia and his willingness to fight for voting rights, Home Rule and budget autonomy for the District.
White House Statement on License Plate Change
President Obamas limo bearing DCs Taxation Without Representation license plates during the inauguration. Photo courtesy of whitehouse.gov.

Development Manager Nadia Elguindy and Development Assistant Catherine Cavander kicking off The Passenger happy hour.

Budget Freedom Happy Hours

To increase the visibility of our Yes on 8 campaign, DC Vote reached out to local businesses to partner with us in a series of Budget Freedom Happy Hours. These events gave us a chance to connect with our supporters, as well as newer DC residents, and increase awareness not only around the fight for budget freedom, but the larger fight for full democracy for DC. The happy hours, held at Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights, Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale, CAUSE in Shaw, and The Passenger in Mt. Vernon Square, gave us a chance to educate residents who have not been engaged in our fight. Thank you to DC Brau for donating beer for our Meridian Pint event, and Three Stars Brewing for donating beer for both our CAUSE and The Passenger events. Also, thank you to DC United. The team generously donated tickets and fan gear signed by Head Coach Ben Olsen to raffle off during our CAUSE event. Coach Olsena longtime DC democracy supporterserved as our honorary host at CAUSE. DC Votes Development Manager, Nadia Elguindy, and Development and Administrative Assistant Catherine Cavander, were the power behind these successful events.
DC United Head Coach Ben Olsen with fans and supporters at our CAUSE Budget Freedom Happy Hour. On April 15, referendum supporters show off our DC Federal Tax Bill at The Passenger.

Dear DC Vote Supporter: After two decades of bringing people, states and nations together to fight for whats right on behalf of kids, Im ready to take up the battle for whats right here in the place Im proud to call homethe District of Columbia. I have to admit, during the years Ive traveled domestically mobilizing groups to build strong advocacy efforts and leading campaigns to empower women and girls abroad, it always felt odd knowing that when my plane touched down at home, I was the one short on power. I was the one without a voicewithout a vote. When I first started to organize residents and mobilize institutional leaders right here in DC, my colleagues and I found many people, at the start of our work, exhausted and frustrated from decades of disenfranchisement and inequality. But over time, and after building partnerships and winning small victories, our citizen-advocates were enthusiastic about standing up for what is right. I know

the people of the District can and will continue to stand up in our fight for equality. For these reasons and more, Im delighted to be joining DC Vote and the movement for full democracy. I know its not easy. Weve seen many ups and downs in this battle, but I revel in the fact that were not discouraged. Were all charging ahead at full speed. The budget autonomy referendum is evidence of that. The referendum victory stands tall on the shoulders of my fellow residents of DC who decided not to sit on the sidelines and wait for Congress to act, but instead to do it on our own! Im inspired. And I know that together we can move forward in achieving what is just and what is right for the District. Im happy to be here and appreciative of you all welcoming me with such great enthusiasm. Onward! Kimberly Perry DC Vote Executive Director

Executive Director Kimberly Perry, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Councilmember David Grosso, and Public Affairs Director Eugene Kinlow march during the DC Emancipation Day Parade.

DC Vote supporters call out Sen. Rand Paul for his hypocritical attacks on the rights of DC residents during Pauls Howard University speech.

Our Yes on 8! yard signs popped up in every part of the city, spreading the Free DCs Budget message.